Excellent inspiration Snooozie. Thank you so much for kicking off 2014 with this wonderful message!

My horoscope today reads: Take one last, lingering glance backwards -- and then walk away. You need to put the past behind you, and think about what's really, really important to you now.

Does this resonate with you like it doe me? I am so ready to leave 2013 behind and see what exciting things are in store for me in 2014.

Happy New Year to all you great mad Hatters!

Diane

:drinker: I totally agree Diane - "a NEW YEAR means today we can forget what's gone, appreciate what still remains, and look forward to what's coming next! ". Excited about all the possibilities of what we can all achieve this year ! And in case you don't understand Tammy's use of "IPOU", it's a acronym we use here in the HAtters to say "I'm Proud Of U" (first letter of each word). We also use IPOM (I'm proud of me!) to celebrate and claim every success or change that we make!)

Susan - as usual your pics are the perfect choice so glad u didn't give up trying to post it!

Love your goals - an will give u all the support I can as u work towards them! And you will break through that darn plateau my friend - I wish I could snap my fingers and make it happen but alas we know our bodies do things in their own time even when we do everything right ! All u can say is hang in Susan and we will absolutely do the happy feet dance for ya when it does!!

Morning Hatters!!

and TGIF for those to whom it applies lol... I went back to work yesterday so today is only my Tuesday technically lol!! These record cold temps we are having are helping in my weight loss, because I swear shivering burns calories LOL. i heard this morning the US is about to get hit with another big storm too... not quite sure where but if any of our hatters are in the path... make sure you have flashlights and a manual can opener and water stashed at home!!

Tammy - I took a quick look at that site and immediately flipped it to my work email so I can peruse it on my lunch break... the first recipe that came up was turkey meatloaf and mashed potatos.... I was drooling lol!! Thanks so much!! and AWESOME job on the steps and the rest..... you are ROCKING your goal for this month .. and seeing you post your results keeps me in line to do mine so thanks and congrats!!! :flowerforyou:

Diane - yep I had major dental surgery a week before Christmas - the start of a reconstruction which is gonna take several months but this was the worstest part hence why I;m only starting on mushy stuff... lol.. Hoping within a week or so I can move on to something more substantial ... LIKE TURKEY MEATLOAF!!!! hahahhaha...... (and I dunno if any of you have ever tried those Boost and Carnation instant breakfast type things... but after so long enjoying good healthy fresh food, I found them all quite disgusting and chemically tasting.... blech!! Thankfully now pureeing a lot of veggies but gak that stuff is horrid!!

Found a neat little article that seemed appropriate for us right now (being Ontario people) with these frigid temps comfort food is high on the list of wants.... so an interesting read for some!

The term comfort food is a bit of a misnomer. We indulge in stuff like milkshakes and cheeseburgers to soothe ourselves, but they can actually have the opposite effect once they pass our lips – and it's not just because our clothes feel distressingly tighter.

According to researchers who have studied the link, fast food and packaged pastries can cause inflammation that interferes with mood-regulating chemicals in the brain and can even lead to symptoms of depression.

Fortunately, there are plenty of yummy and satisfying options that will buoy your mood and slim you down.

HABIT: carbo-loading

There's a reason so many so-called comfort foods like mashed potatoes and lasagna are carb-based. Carbs fuel the production of serotonin, your brain's main feel-good neurotransmitter, which activates receptors that help control mood and appetite. But when there is less daylight, your body produces less serotonin, says Judith Wurtman, Ph.D., coauthor of The Serotonin Power Diet – meaning you want to eat more than usual in winter to keep your spirits up. But careful: Not all carbs are created equal.
THE FIX: Eat complex carbs like whole-grain cereal, rice, and oatmeal, which are digested more slowly than refined grains, staving off hunger (and crankiness). For spuds, swap white ones for sweet potatoes, which are rich in B vitamins and lycopene, nutrients that have been shown to help depression

HABIT: reaching for bad fats

Some experts say the tendency to seek out fattening foods in the winter may be a leftover evolutionary urge, since bulking up gives your organs insulation from the cold and may also bolster your immune system. (But unless you're an Arctic explorer, that extra layer is probably not a personal goal.)

THE FIX: Friend the right fats. Healthy fats that contain omega-3's are known to support brain-cell function and positive moods, says nutritionist Elizabeth Somer, R.D., author of Eat Your Way to Happiness. Fish are among the best sources, especially salmon and sardines. Low-fat milk that's fortified with DHA is also a good choice and often contains vitamin D.

HABIT: cranking up the heat

It's natural to crave something warm on chilly days, but many mood-boosting nutrients, including folate (found in kale, lentils, asparagus, broccoli, and beets) are damaged by heat, says Drew Ramsey, M.D., an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University and coauthor of The Happiness Diet. What's more, Harvard researchers found that cooking food can actually decrease how many calories your body uses during digestion. (We burn off about 10 per cent of what we consume through digestion, a not insignificant amount.)

THE FIX: The less you have to zap your food with heat, and the more you have to chew and crunch it as you polish it off, the better. If you can't imagine subsisting on a completely raw diet (don't blame you!), try steaming your veggies. A Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry study reports that this cooking technique best preserves the nutrients you need.

HABIT: gorging on sweets

Fewer hours of daylight also means your body may be producing more of the sleep-inducing chemical melatonin, which can leave you lethargic and craving sugar, a quick source of energy. But high-sugar diets are linked to an increased risk of depression, and the sweet stuff causes blood-sugar spikes that can make you grumpy, says Jeffrey Rossman, Ph.D., author of The Mind-Body Mood Solution.
THE FIX: Get your buzz from caffeine – a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that it may slash depression risk in women. Just don't overdo it or consume it too late in the day – Rossman recommends two to three 8-ounce cups of coffee a day – since studies link too little sleep to weight gain. Cutting back on caffeine? Load up on B vitamins instead: B12, B9 (a.k.a. folate), and B6 help convert amino acids into the mood-and energy-lifting neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, according to Ramsey. Sources include poultry, leafy greens, fish, lentils, and eggs.

Thanks for mentioning that Susan - I actually thought of u when I read it because of what it did to you but i forgot by the time I posted to mention it!

I almost hopped On a plane to Arizona this aft because it was so darn cold an your the only one I know who is in a hot climate right. Now lolol

lol. Looks like the hatters are going on a road trip!! Ill sleep on the lawn in the backyard at those temps Susan so no worries about enough room for all of us!!!

Setting the GPS for Louisianna, Oregon, Jersey...... make sure you're packed ladies!

Tammy !!! Lookit day 3 for you girl. 12,700 steps??? Fabulous. !!!!!:drinker: